SALISBURY, N.C. – Chaz Woodward will be part of a strong contingent of local drivers looking to defend Millbridge Speedway’s sixth-mile dirt oval from outside invaders during the Keith Kunz Motorsports Giveback Classic presented by Toyota Racing Development on Oct. 31.

Woodward, a two-time track champion at Millbridge who has spent much of his year this year running select 305 sprint car and regional midget races, is set to drive a car out of the Pernesiglio Racing Development stable.

He’ll race under the guidance of owner Derek Pernesiglio, who Woodward worked with through an internship at SPEED SPORT during his final semester of college at Winston-Salem State University earlier this year.

“When this thing was first announced, I was actually still interning at SPEED SPORT at the time, and Derek and I talked about it even a little bit back then,” Woodward recalled. “Once my application got accepted, from that point on we knew this was what we were going to do. He and I have been friends for a while, we were competitors for a few years and he’s helped me out with quite a bit, even on the sprint car side. It means a lot to drive one of his cars and I hope I can deliver a good result for him.”

“We’re very excited to have Chaz driving for Pernesiglio Racing Development,” added Pernesiglio. “I knew Chaz received an invitation to the race, but didn’t have a ride. I’ve raced with him before and he’s always gotten a lot out of the equipment he’s running. He’s definitely an underrated driver, and for the few time’s he’s been in a sprint car, he’s been impressive. We want to give him the best shot possible to win and feel he’ll have a great opportunity to do so in the Giveback Classic.”

Though Woodward has plenty of prior experience racing at Millbridge, the soon-to-be 24-year-old hasn’t raced at the bullring in more than a year, meaning he’ll need to get back up to speed quickly.

“I think the last time I was out there, I was running Nick Hoffman’s car … and that would have been a year and a half ago, so it’s been a while,” said Woodward. “I’m hoping it’s like riding a bike, though, and I can knock the rust off pretty quick. I ran pretty well the last time and things came together alright, I just didn’t have the luck I needed.

“My biggest focus is on putting down solid laps for qualifying, because that’s a huge thing in terms of passing points and setting yourself up for the rest of the night,” he added. “We’ll just take it one step at a time, but I’m really excited for the opportunity. It’s like getting back to basics, really.”

Having spent some time in a winged sprint car over the past year, Woodward feels that he’ll have a bit of an advantage now as he drops back into the style of racing that kick-started his career.

“I think the seat time, in general, does help me,” noted Woodward. “The one thing different between the karts and the 305s is that the karts honestly feel a little bit quicker, because they’re so twitchy. That’s the one thing I’ll have to get used to again, with no suspension, but I think I can adapt quickly.”

Woodward added that the excitement for the inaugural Giveback Classic is palpable, especially given what’s on the line: a ride in the 33rd annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals at Tulsa Expo Raceway in January with Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports.

“The first time that SPEED SPORT came out to Millbridge and put the May show together, there was a lot of buzz going on about it, but I don’t think it was ever to this level,” he noted. “With someone like Keith Kunz coming out here, all the support from Toyota that is behind the race and the chance to win a Chili Bowl ride … I’ve never seen people as excited to run a race as they are to run this one.”

Should Woodward win the Open division feature on Halloween night, he’ll get that coveted grand prize, and that’s something that he can barely process in his mind, let alone fathom what he’d feel if he does end up standing in victory lane at the end of the Giveback Classic.

“I grew up watching guys like Bryan Clauson and Kyle Larson race midgets, and to even have a chance to chase a dream like running the same race that they made their names in … it’s beyond words,” he said.

“Winning that Chili Bowl ride, if we could pull it off … that would be absolutely life-changing for me.”